Preseason Power Rankings No. 9: Cincinnati Bengals

Posted by Mike Wilkening on July 18, 2014, 3:27 PM EDT

AP

The 2013 Bengals won 11 games, third-most in their history. They outscored opponents by 125 points, a margin superior to their Super Bowl entrants of 1981 (+117) and 1988 (+125). They were 4-0 against eventual playoff teams, knocking off Green Bay, New England, San Diego and Indianapolis.

But once again, Cincinnati was one-and-done in the postseason. The Chargers, whom the Bengals handled in December, turned the tables in January, rolling to a 27-10 wild card win in Cincinnati. And once again, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton played poorly on the playoff stage, committing three turnovers.

The loss dropped coach Marvin Lewis’ playoff record to 0-5, with three home playoff defeats. It also marked the 23rd consecutive season the franchise didn’t win a single postseason game.

The good news? The 2014 Bengals should contend for another trip to the playoffs. There are quite a few General Managers who would surely trade rosters with Cincinnati in a heartbeat, and that cannot be overlooked, even as another postseason setback is fresh in memory.
Strengths.

The Bengals’ defense is one of the league’s best. No AFC club was better stopping the opposition short on third downs a season ago, and only Seattle gave up less yards per play. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins and weak-side linebacker Vontaze Burfict (171 tackles in 2013 ) are the standouts on this skilled stop unit. Atkins, who comes off an ACL tear, is an outstanding interior rusher when healthy, while Burfict, a former undrafted free agent, has become a star.

Dalton (4,293 yards, 33 TD passes, 20 interceptions) is durable and productive. His TD passes total about 61 percent of the club’s touchdowns in the last three seasons (80-of-132). Dalton enters the final year of his contract, and his future is a major storyline entering 2014.

The Bengals’ offensive line is solid, with two former first-round picks (right tackle Andre Smith, right guard Kevin Zeitler) among its ranks. Dalton was sacked 17 fewer times in 2013.

Weaknesses.

Too many of Cincinnati’s drives end in Dalton turnovers. He committed at least two turnovers in 7-of-16 regular season starts in 2013 and followed that with two picks and one fumble in the wild card loss. If Dalton cuts down on the giveaways, this could be an elite offense on its very best, given the talent on hand.

With Atkins and cornerback Leon Hall (Achilles) coming off serious injuries, the Bengals’ defensive depth is an area to watch. Moreover, the club is a little thinner at defensive end after Michael Johnson’s departure in free agency.

Finally, the offense and defense will be adjusting to new coordinators. On defense, Paul Guenther replaces Mike Zimmer, who became Minnesota’s head coach. On offense, Hue Jackson takes over for Jay Gruden, now Washington’s head coach. Both Guenther and Jackson have ample experience in Cincinnati, which could shorten the transitional period.

Changes.

The Bengals suffered a few losses in free agency, though that was to be expected. Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins received lucrative deals from Tampa Bay, which turned over its roster under new head coach Lovie Smith. The Bengals also lost slot receiver Andrew Hawkins to Cleveland after declining to match an offer sheet.

At the backup spots, the biggest move came with the addition of quarterback Jason Campbell, who reunites with Jackson, his head coach in Oakland three years ago.

In the draft, the Bengals added several rookies who could contribute right off the bat, including tailback Jeremy Hill, a second-round pick from LSU. The club’s first-round selection, cornerback Darqueze Dennard, joins a deep CB corps.

Camp battles.

With a strong roster, competition is a given. Here are the positions to monitor:

Running back: The Bengals are willing to play young skill-position players, so Hill figures to get a real shot getting plenty of work. Bernard will not lack for touches, so any work Hill earns could put the squeeze on veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who’s slated to make $2.3 million this season.

Cornerback: Dennard and third-year pro Dre Kirkpatrick are waiting in the wings behind Hall, Terence Newman and Adam Jones. Hall is trying to return from a second Achilles injury since 2011.

Linebacker: Lamur and Vincent Rey are the players to watch. Can Vincent Rey push Rey Maualuga at middle linebacker?

Center: Pollak, Bodine and Trevor Robinson are the candidates to take over for Cook.

Prospects.

The Bengals have a challenging schedule. They draw the NFC South in non-conference play, which entails trips to powerful New Orleans and improved Tampa Bay and home games against respectable Atlanta and Carolina. The Bengals will also face each of the AFC’s first-place clubs from a season ago (Denver, Indianapolis, New England). Finally, the club also draws an early bye (Week Four), which means any later-season injury issues will challenge the team’s depth.

In a scheduling quirk, six of Cincinnati’s first nine games are at home, including three in a row from Oct. 26 through Nov. 6 (Baltimore, Jacksonville, Cleveland). However, the Bengals then take a three-game Southern road trip, facing New Orleans, Houston and Tampa Bay in succession.

Nevertheless, the Bengals appear equipped to handle such regular season challenges. In fact, a hurdle-laden schedule could be just what’s needed to keep Cincinnati sharp as it goes for its fourth playoff berth in a row.

The Bengals are beyond the thrill of simply getting to the postseason. Winning in January is what they seek. Their last playoff win was at Riverfront Stadium, back before Nirvana’s “Nevermind” had even been released.

It’s been too long between playoff successes for Cincinnati, but so it goes in the NFL, which has no best-of-seven tournaments. The league does, however, have quite the tough 12-team, one-and-done bracket, as the Bengals know too well.

The Bengals young players are getting to the point where they feel like they are peaking and getting to the playoffs is not enough. Look out for Cincinnati to do damage in the AFC North again this year, a first round bye should be a goal for them.

Mike Zimmer was the only chance at the Bengals making a run at the Super Bowl and he left for the historic Minnesota Vikings .

Now the torch has been passed.

And the Vikings are perennial Super Bowl Contenders.

Mike Zimmer > The Bengals.

pem34 says:Jul 18, 2014 3:38 PM

They also lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators to HC jobs…so you could add that to the mix (although it doesn’t seem like that will set them back).

tedmurph says:Jul 18, 2014 3:39 PM

I still think Dalton and Lewis hold back a top 5 roster. They’ll be a playoff contender, but I think either Baltimore, Pittsburgh or both pass them this yr. They’ll have to make some tough decisions about Dalton and Lewis. 9 wins.

So.. The Bengals get dominated by SD in the playoffs, lose their offensive coordinator who was the person responsible for their turnaround, and they’re still at #9 while the Chargers drop to mid-teens?

Everyone hating on the Ravens and probably didnt watch the Ravens. We were in the division race until week 16 I believe and then in the playoff race until week 17. We lost to Cincy in Cincy, and we finish 8-8. We had a bad year last year and still had shot.

Power rankings mean nothing. The Ben-gals will end up 2nd in the AFC North, with the Steelers and Ravens trailing far behind.

The obvious winner in the AFCN will be Cleveland. These lesser teams can eat dust.

mkoogs says:Jul 18, 2014 4:10 PM

Jackson as OC will help Dalton. Green is exercising more leadership. Lamar was the starter last year until injured in last preseason game. Steelers are always dangerous with the Bengals but the Bengals will win the division. Time to win in the postseason.

joemammy says:
Jul 18, 2014 4:05 PM
Power rankings mean nothing. The Ben-gals will end up 2nd in the AFC North, with the Steelers and Ravens trailing far behind.

The obvious winner in the AFCN will be Cleveland. These lesser teams can eat dust.
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Wow you must be some kind of stupid or something if you think Cleveland as any shot at taking the AFCN. I’ll tell you what im willing to bet $3,000 that Cleveland will be drafting in the top 12 next year

bonniebengal says:Jul 18, 2014 4:19 PM

While losing Mike Zimmer hurts a lot, losing Jay Gruden and getting Hue Jackson instead is actually a plus. Gruden is an inconsistent play caller who abandoned the run too often and didn’t call plays to the strengths of the players.

By no stretch am I a Bengals fan.. but really? Below the Ravens at #9? Baltimore is not going to be a top 10 team this year. Bengals might be if they can build on what they had last year. But with their two main coordinators leaving… I doubt it. We’ll see though. Hopefully they can sit on top of that division again, cuz well, Pittsburg and Baltimore are way too full of themselves. It would be nice to see their annoying fanbases have to shut it for another year. They’re like the Packers… a few splashy players, but ultimately a weak roster. Bengals are solid, and I hope they can turn in a good season in that division.

Your team hasn’t won a playoff game since 1990. So yeah, keep talking, it’s amusing to us.

– Ravens Fans

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You mean back when your fanbase was called the Dawg Pound? Baltimore Browns fans would be wise not to bring up history before 1996 unless its in reference to the Colts.

west458 says:Jul 18, 2014 5:03 PM

I have the Bengals winning the North and would place them above the Ravens. The offense should be much better because Hue Jackson is a proven OC and I think that we’ll see an improvement in both the running and passing game. Smash mouth football is a tradition in the AFC Central/North – solid defense and power running to set up the pass. Looks like the Bengals have all the ingredients. The defense will miss Zimmer but I don’t see much of a drop off overall with all the talented on that side of the ball.

As for Dalton — he has improved every year and I’ll take one and done the past three years in the playoffs after the 90’s and early 2000s. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want another one and done I want it all.

Honestly I have no idea how the ravens could be ranked ahead of the bengals or steelers. The ravens have no run game , and an aging Defense that can’t cover for Flacco anymore. The bengals should run away with the division

casualmalexlfan says:Jul 18, 2014 5:09 PM

I’m going to laugh if PFT lists one of the reasons for ranking the Ravens so high in the top 10 is because of their hiring of Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison, the head coach and offensive coordinator of the team that went 2-14 last season.

Dalton should be a game manager, he is average but the team is already built around them, there are targets, protection and a good defense anchored by elite players like Atikins.

Dalton is their weakest link so they should play to minimize his mistakes, the 2012 49ers with Alex Smith could be an inspiration (even though Smith always looked like a QB less turnover-prone than Dalton, even when he was labeled as a bust).

I wonder what’s about the Ravens hype, did 20+ INTs make Flacco elite?

I like the Bengals & always have but i don’t know how you rank them 2 spots above the Cards. The Cards went 10 & 6 in the best division in football with a 1st year head coach. I don’t wanna take anything away from Cincy but IMO the entire AFC is in a down trend so i just don’t think the competition is strong enough to be ranked 9th when they got knocked out in the 1st round at home. As a Boise St fan I’ve been watching Dalton since his TCU days & although i was always against him in college I’ve pulled for him ever since he entered the NFL. I’d love to see the Bengals prove me wrong & see Dalton take the next step.

Go Hawks!

tictoccpthook says:Jul 18, 2014 5:29 PM

Third place in the AFC North.

thefiesty1 says:Jul 18, 2014 5:32 PM

Green and Dalton are a great tandem but still ranked a few spots too high.

The Bengals are one of the few AFC teams who could compete in the NFC.

joemammy says:Jul 18, 2014 6:16 PM

sladewillson says:

“Wow you must be some kind of stupid or something if you think Cleveland as any shot at taking the AFCN. I’ll tell you what im willing to bet $3,000 that Cleveland will be drafting in the top 12 next year”
——————————–

Your mommy gives you that much allowance? You must some some very special young lady!

jtbsteeler says:
Jul 18, 2014 3:33 PM
I’m glad the expectations are high fo the Ravens. That way when they fall flat the embarrassment will be greater.
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Really ramping up the predictions this summer. When are you going to be right about something?

This has to be a joke! Where are the Ravens they should not be ranked ahead of the Bengals & I’m a Steelers fan. The Bengals have a top 5 def the Ravens have about 10 new starters on D the last 17 months, a 32 year old TE & 35 year old wr added, a O coordinator that won 2 games last year as a head coach, no run game with a suspect oline & their top Rb soon to be suspended. I dont see the logic in them being ranked in the Elite 8.

Ohh and to the cheerleaders for the NFC, mainly fans of the NFCW teams, really need to chill on downing the AFC, because the NFC only won 4 games over the AFC conference head to head. Its parity in the NFL, cause I remember the NFC a few years ago had a 7-9 team go to the playoffs & actually won the game & that div the NFCW was historically bad then!

24. That’s the number of touchdown passes Dalton has thrown in division games since his career began in 2011, the most among AFC North quarterbacks in that time span. Flacco has thrown 22 touchdown passes and Roethlisberger has 20 in division games during that stretch.

Have fun battling it out for 2nd place Ravens and Browns…. Sorry Steelers, at least you’ll be drafting top 8 next year!

I think the Bengals have a 10+ year window for Super Bowl contention. They have all the pieces on offense (yes, including Dalton) and defense, they are young and they have cap space.

That being said, you play in a division with;
A) The Browns (need I say more?)
B) An aging and quickly declining Steelers
C) And a Ravens team that looked helpless last year.

My Chargers play in a division with;
A) The Raiders (OK, so Raiders and Browns cancel eachother out)
B) A resurgent and relatively young Chiefs
C) And a powerhouse Broncos team (whom we beat in Denver last year).

Then (no offense), we crushed you in the playoffs, in Cinci.

So how exactly are we 7 spots behind you?

I repeat, you guys are a great team, and your window is much wider than ours is, but still, 7 spots ahead…? Hmm…

Awesome and good luck with this. I’m happy with what my Steelers did this off-season and I like how they compare against the Bengals, and I like the Steelers underrated and Cincinnati overrated. Can we play the games yet?!

Bengals finished with 11 wins. Only 8 other teams finished with 11+ wins so it’s not at all that surprising that they would finish top 10 in power rankings. None of the players they lost will make as much difference as adding Atkins and hall. You can’t rank teams based on winning or losing one playoff game, the bengals have a better te than the chargers, simple as that.